Most of us consider nothing better than coming home after a long day at work or school. Our homes are arguably one of the most important settings we’ll create for ourselves, providing a safe space from the demands of the world and a backdrop for life.

According to Dave Rayburn of Rayburn 1 General Contractors, the bottom line is that your house is going to be the biggest and most significant investment you’ll ever make.

“That’s what you work the hardest for, and that’s what you work the longest for,” Rayburn says. “So if you’re going to go out there and bust your tail to pay for the place that is going to be your kingdom, your domain, why not build exactly what you want? Why settle for less?”

When it comes to building, you have several options, one of which is to invest in a truly custom home where you get to decide precisely what you want down to the tiniest detail. Another is to go with a spec, or a “cookie-cutter” home, where you sacrifice not only on level of customization, but level of quality as well. Spec homes are sometimes even built without a specific buyer in mind.

The truly custom home is gaining popularity by the year, and there are plenty of reasons why —including the following three. And if you’re looking to speak with a reliable contractor about building the custom home of your dreams, Rayburn 1 General Contractors has more than 30 years of experience in the Kentuckiana area and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

With a custom home, the homeowner can make the right choices where it matters, investing in quality materials and having a say in the look and feel of the final product.(Photo: Getty Images)

Custom homes mean higher quality

“There’s a huge difference between custom and spec homes,” says Rayburn. Someone building spec homes, he explains, tend to have to build more to turn a profit, which means they tend to cut corners and use materials that are simply a much lesser grade than custom home builders are going to use.

“When you’re building a custom home, the homeowner gets to pick everything,” says Rayburn. “You’ll have the ability to buy a much better HVAC system, the right doors, the right windows, insulation and the right roofing. All of these things add up to higher energy efficiency.” And higher energy efficiency will keep you comfortable while also lessening your home’s monthly energy bill.

You can also choose higher grade trim, flooring and pretty much anything else that goes into what physically makes up the house. “It’s not only about the looks and aesthetics of the home — it’s the functionality of the home as far as how that house is going to function in extreme heats and colds,” says Rayburn.

Custom is really the only way to get exactly what you want

“I’ve never seen a person walk into a house and say it’s exactly perfect, it’s exactly what I want,” Rayburn says. It’s highly unlikely that a home that has already been built or whose construction you don’t have full control over is going to exactly match the vision you have for the home of your dreams.

Rayburn has worked with people who have brought him photographs and floor plans from several different houses, saying they like certain looks and aspects of one place and other features from another one.

“So basically, we can take all of those houses and create one house, giving them everything they want,” Rayburn says. “When you’re doing a custom house, that truly is your dream home. You’re going to get exactly what you want, and of course you’re going to pay to do that, but it really is going to be exactly what you want.”

Custom homes are a solid investment

If you build a custom dream home, chances are you’re going to want to stay put and not move for decades. But sometimes the unexpected occurs and you may eventually find yourself in a position where you want or need to put the home on the market.

If you go with the right builder, like Rayburn 1, and it’s a custom home, you’ll be able to have your house built at a flat rate, and not at a percentage — which means you’ll likely be able to sell it for a price you’re more than happy with, if and when the time ever comes.

“I tell people their house is going to cost X, and what I’m going to do is charge you X to build that house, and we’re going to provide you with all the receipts,” says Rayburn. “If they’re going in with the right builder, they’re going in with an equity position, and that’s a good thing, because when you get ready to sell the house, you should be making a good 20% to 25%.”

If you have questions about whether a custom home is the right fit for you and your family, Rayburn 1 General Contractors is ready to answer them, and to help you make the home of your dreams a reality.

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA Today Network were not involved in the creation of this content.